EMILIO CASTELAR Y RIPOLL (1874)

Statesman and author who was one of the most powerful champions of Spanish Republicanism in the later half of the 19th century and who served as president of the first Spanish republic from September 1873 to January 1874.

Castelar was educated at the University of Madrid where he became professor of history and took an active role in politics.

He achieved fame as an orator and notoriety for his speeches against the monarchy which activity lost him his chair in April 1865. After the abortive Republican rising of 1866 he was sentenced to death but escaped to France. After the successful Revolution of 1868 he returned and entered Parliament as an energetic and effective defender of Republican ideals.

When Castelar assumed leadership of the repubic (1873-74), Spain was at the height of disturbance and turmoil. He strengthened the army and resolutely undertook to crush rebellion. He also embarked on a policy of conciliation with the Roman Catholic Church. His tactful and statesmanlike stance prevented rupture with the United States over the Virginius affair (Oct. 31, 1873) in which U.S. seamen were executed as pirates by Spain during a Cuban insurrection.

Castelar was ousted from office by Republican opposition to his conservative and conciliatory policies. A military coup followed an he went into exile.

After the accession of King Alfonso XII (1874-85), Castelar returned and was elected to Parliament. Although he became reconcilied to the monarchy, he continued to champion a unitary and conservative republic that would be established and run by legal and peaceful means.

As leader of the opposition he found himself increasingly estranged from the revolutionary and federalistic doctrines espoused by the extreme Republicans; yet he favoured religious toleration, universal suffrage and the abolition of slavery in Puerto Rico.

Castelar also found time for literary and journalistic efforts and left behind him more than 90 works, including novels, histories and political speeches.